Good comments. I think I did say that I detest Sharon and his brutal policies; indeed, I have been involved with American Friends of Peace Now. I believe the Palestinian people are entitled to their own state on better terms than have been offered, and I am offended by Israelis who attempt to define Palestinians out of existence (I feel similarly about China/Taiwan and Greece/Macedonia, where outsiders have tried to usurp a people's self-definition). Nonetheless, I am very gloomy about the current prospects.

What I was responding to in the blog item was the article in the current Atlantic Monthly about the logic of suicide terrorism. The argument presented in the piece is that the renewed occupation, hateful as it is, is the only way Israel can interfere in the suicide bombing infrastructure and sustain the claimed 80% interception rate.

Perhaps the "tens of thousands" I guessed is hyperbolic. But the situation we are in has tremendously empowered the most violent extremists on both sides, the folks who are not interested in a two state solution and want to destroy any peace process. If withdrawal of the IDF from the occupied territories makes successful suicide bombing easier, there logically will be a whole lot more of it.

And an end to the occupation which occasions a bloodbath will lead to reoccupation -- again, to the delight of extremists.

Like I said, I can't see a way out of this.